sohtfnemann



(No Model.) Q 2 Sheets-Sheet l.v

J. SOHUNEMANN.

MUSIC BOX. No 445,093 Patented Jan 20,1891

(III-1 by f 17;. .3 21 24 \V ,2 j- 9 f 3% 7g 4 V\ a? 1 El? z n w. f

0 ML 0 a i 4 1 J 6; z w

2 t e e h S P t e e h S 2 N m Mn .3 NC m H M S l q M M 0 W UNITED STATES JOHAXN sont'mnmwx,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF 'iERLlN, GERMANY.

MUSIC-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,093, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed April 12, 1890. Serial No. 347,582, (No model.)

m 1.0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHANN SoHijNEiL-iNN,

a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Enipire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to music-boxes in which a row of metal tongues, by vibration, bring forth the musical tones. These metal tongues heretofore were thus vibrated by being tripped by pins or teeth of a rotating barrel; and it is the object of this my invention to provide a music-box in which the metal tongues are operated by means of a perforated sheet of paper; and with this object in view my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and i are cross-sections showing one of the tongue-tripping keys on its several positlons during its operation, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a series of tongues and operating-keys with the perforated sheet and feeding mechanism for the same.

Corresponding letters of reference in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts. i

A series of metal tongues m are secured againstthe rabbeted edge of a strip A, secured with its opposite edge against a vertical plate 13, fixed upon a horizontal plate 0, slotted longitudinally to provide a guidcway for the paper ribbon D, moving therein in the direction indicated by an arrow. To the ends of plate 13, to extend rearward, are formed the journal-boxes for two rollers 20 and w, the lower journal-box being vertically adjustable, and between these rollers w and w the paper strip D will move with a sufiicient compression to provide enough friction that with turning the upper roller 20 by its hand-crank h the paper strip D will be pulled rearwardly through the slotted guide-plate C. Against the forward upper edge of strip A are also secured the upper ends of leaf-springs g, one for each tongue m, to be in front thereof,

and each having secured a pad Ll, of felt or other suitable material, to act as dampers to tongues on.

Through an opening in the lower portion of plate i3 is placed the rear end of a metal pi ce E, being secured with its rear vertical tlange against the rear face of plate B, to be rigid therewith. The forward end of this piece E is curved downward, and provides a longitudinal eye for a pin 0. This forward end is slotted for providing guides for the pivotal parts of a series of keys F, the pivot-eyes'for the pin 0 of each such key F being oblong on a nearly vertical direction. Below this pivot each key F has a V-shaped heel e, and the rearwardlyextending arm of each key has to its end also a downwardly-poin ted V-shaped too i, being somewhat segmental or curved on its rear edge. To the pivotal part of each key is also provided an upwardly-extending nose )2, the upper end of which is made slanting forwardly, so its rear upper edge will present an acute angle or sharp corner. A leaf-springf for each key is secured under the rear end of piece E to press upon the rearward arm of key F a little forward of tee i. The strip of paper D is perforated with longitudinally-oblong holes in rows on parallel lines, one line for each key F, these holes abeing punched on intermittent proper positions for the several tongues m to be tripped, and of a length in proper proportion for the length of time the particular tongue at is to be allowed a vibration for sounding the particular tone. The advancing end of each such perforation a is marked 1', and its opposite end is marked s. The longitudinallyslotted plate 0 is again vertically slotted to provide openings of proper size, one for each key F to play up and down in.

During the movement of a key F the nose a must follow the line of a rectangular figure in a manner that after tripping the lower end of atonguemit must during its return move ment clear such tongue, and must then be lifted for the next tripping operation. This movement must be imparted to such tongue by one of the perforations a of the paper ribbon D, that is to be moved through the instrument with a uniform speed in the direction indicated by the arrow, which several movements of the key F are clearly shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and a of the drawings.

In Fig. 1 the key F is shown in position with its heel e'resting upon the solid portion of the paper ribbon D, while its toe t' is in one of the perforations a, to be lifted as the paper ribbon advances by the edge sof such perforation coming into contact with the angular face of such toe 2', whereby the nose n will be swung into contact with the tongue m, tripping the same.

Fig. 2 shows the position of keyF with the pedal and toe i resting upon the solid portion.

of the paper strip. Fig. 3 shows the position with the end edge 2" of one of the perforations to of the paper strip just passed from under the heel e of the key F, allowing the same to enter such perforation, whereby the nose 1?, will drop to be below the lowerend of the tongue m, ready to be swung toward the rear without touching the end of such tongue m and Fig.4 shows the position of the heel 6,

having been lifted, while the toe i just enters,

a perforation, wherebv the nose n is swung rearward from under the tongue m and into position for the next trip movement taking place, with the ends of perforation a reaching and lifting toe 71 again, as shown by Fig. 1.

It will be readily seen the oblong eye of key F will provide for a vertical movement of such key independent of the swinging movement, thereby permitting a return movement of nose 11 without touching tongue m, and the' dropping of toe 2' into the perforation a of paper ribbon D will be by degrees,because the segmental end edge of such toe not being concentric with pin 0, but on a curve with increasing radius, this segmental edge sliding down on end 1' of perforation a must drop slowly.

Shortly before dropping the tongue hi this tongue must be perfectly motionless, since otherwise a rattling noise would be caused by the vibrating tongue m touching the approaching nose n, and for the purpose of cansing the tongue m to be-perfectly motionless the springs g, with pads d,-are provided. The lower end of such a spring g rests upon the nosen, and is in constant contact therewith, and with the movement of such nose n this spring 9 is more or less pushed away from tongue m excepting at the time such nose is swung to its most rearward position, (shown by Fig. 1,) when the pad 01 will be allowed to press against tongue m, releasing the same again instantaneously with the forward movement of the nose at for tripping the tongue at and causing it to vibrate.

hat I claim is- 1. The combination, with a paper ribbon having longitudinally-rectangular perforations and being guided in a slotted plate and moved by suitable rollers, of vibratable tongues, and of keys, one for each tongue, each key having an oblong eye pivoted upon a round pin and provided with a V-shaped heel and an arm with a V-shaped toe, both engaging the perforations of the paper ribbon, and with a nose for tripping the tongue to vibrate, all substantially as set forth,to operate as specified.

2. The combination, with a paper ribbon having longitudinally-rectangular perforations and being guided in a slotted plate and moved by suitable rollers, with vibratable tongues, and with keys, one for each tongue, each key having an oblong eye pivoted upon a round pin and provided With a V-shaped heel and an arm with a V-shaped toe, both engaging the perforations of the paper ribbon, and with a nose for tripping the tongue to vibrate, of springs with pads as dampersfor the tongues operated by the noses of the keys simultaneously with the tripping movement thereof, all substantially as set forth, to operate as specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOl-IANN soHUNEMANN.

Witnesses:

ULRICH R. MAERZ, JULIUS STUCKENBERG. 

